Shower

There were several of us who had been planning a little baby shower for a friend of mine's daughter. Everybody had a job, mine was the house. There is just something about getting your house "party ready" that causes you to open your eyes and review the clutter, update the shelves, shuffle around furniture, trim the ivy, clean off the desk, throw away the unnecessary and vacuum in hide away places. You've been there and you know what this list looks like. But when all was said and done and the house was clean and ready, it looked unfinished, because it was.

The dining table that was to be used for the buffet was covered with a beautiful cloth of my mom's and some silver trays were scattered about but they were empty and the table sparse. Then one by one the hostesses would drop by. The first dropped by wine glasses and glass plates, the second, a most beautiful silver punch bowl filled with flowers she herself had arranged in variety of whites with occasional hydrangeas (it is a boy) which sat on a matching round tray as the centerpiece, and linen napkins. The table was taking shape.Then another with her array of hand made sweets on a raised pedestal. and extradoniary hand decorated "baby carriage" cookies on another. Then the vegetable try and fillers of fried chicken and finger sandwiches and a cheese mold. Someone brought a big, glass hammered ice tea dispenser that had a stand with a spigot, and while it was being set up, someone else was slicing the lemons and distributing the ice. I tell you these details because you have probably all been a part of this senario at one time or another and can relate to the progression
But I couldn't help but notice the how everything started out kind of bland and then with every new addition and the arrival of every new hostess the whole party day began to take shape. But it took everybody doing their job and pitching in. In a short time the house was not only party ready but so were the compliments. The hostesses, the food, the drinks and even the party favors with lit candles as a backdrop. The guests came, the visiting began, the mom delighted, gifts presented, the showering completed and a lovely time of fellowship and celebration had been shared.

All this to say, it a a blessing to get to be a part of a celebration for someone's news of joy. And the blessing extends to those of us who were gathered together because of one mutual friend. We were gathered together, some of us not really knowing much about the other, but we were united for one purpose. To celebrate the joy to come for our friend and her daughter. We might not be on party track but each day we are presented with opportunities to celebrate life and friendship with others. And each of us have jobs that have been designated by God that display personalities and gifts and the warmth of the love that God has given us to bless others with.

We are confronted with strangers, and fellow workers, and people who serve us and people to serve. We are not required to take on whole venues of responsibilities, only to do our best with what has been designated in our jobs, with our families, for our friends, and unto others. We are called to be on call for one another. To share in the joys and help to divide in the sorrows. It is pretty easy to stay cuddled up in our own comfort zones, but I have found that when I grasp the courage to step out, God steps in, and makes way for His way whatever the situation.

We are offered and are to offer to be a part of a splendid buffet of life intersecting. But we have to make a conscious call to allow that opening to hen to walk through it. You may be the quiet one, everybody need a listener. You may be the funny one, sent to lighten things up. You may be the smart on, sent to share wisdom, or the sweet one who brings encouragement. You may be the blunt one who states truth, or the
mediator who seeks compromise. Whatever you place, we are an instrument that God has created to be a part of something much greater than ourselves. Blessed are we to be in a position to receive God's grace. May our tables be set with God's cloth of love, centered by his grace and then filled with the gifts of encouragement, support, humility, wisdom, truth, humor and hope presented by those we love and whose paths we cross.

3 John 1:8
We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth.

Dear Lord, Thank you for the gifts that you have bestowed on each of us to share with others. Help us to have the courage to step out, and watch for you to step in. Amen

Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!